Just as well we did! After 30 mintes or so of waiting, we had a very obliging Short-eared Owl quartering the moss....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXO7pHmMajxzxy_UaPdLs6t6wHeQGIxuuSG-geFnM1co0BBfvF7Fg5sdUoz4pZWBhC46eEJHBc3_Mp8ugL0FXWFQcmSlAwU1mkOji4KfqW2xZ5iV7cq_wJvFcWxZs84osL9s6Z2AspZYs/s320/Blog+Short+eared+Owl+flight+Whixall+Moss+23+1+11+IMG_4724+1_filtered.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5TwhEQXJO-J6QQ4wPcJfCHufv5SrfUzs-QHmbPxTek5qQVq1DZ_iSgHVbMs1G-Gw33mzPWizo6x349XtcLZpvMR5dRt-4HxJtHFnVGOCk-0HrhHFoW3Ve4NV_GxFfIp_XXbmAiIbwu_0/s320/Blog+Short+eared+Owl+flight+Whixall+Moss+23+1+11+IMG_4725_filtered.jpg)
Always an exciting moment as it turned and flew in our general direction!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOk_L94RYrDEFcENV6hX2u04Bt0faQObt6ZlovGlgk0ffKrq-Kig3nNjYTxHrmx5vYc7-Sat_DE5aL1k7GZtKtfZ8G2_d1NWiopExcIDriKPTJ8H192A_qyFhQWE-JZcJqCRrKCz7bnm9Q/s320/Blog+Short+eared+Owl+flight+Whixall+Moss+23+1+11+IMG_4751_filtered.jpg)
Passing not much more than 50m away!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yAhTIvSP-ZiCy_xsxngmKIJo3DMDZr9xyQg0tr7xfXk2dYIPgj8qezu9lImC7XINTvZepkjVq3ZVaaO499wr5BsGRC-RRedhRqGTItouWxtVE42vkiwFy8-DEOrkEuu4arVPhhFjtt2n/s320/Blog+Short+eared+Owl+flight+Whixall+Moss+23+1+11++IMG_4755_filtered.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-52WMkjjOjVo36-owubV-4kubRlRnv9vj0COws6cONJ1z1GfxmZ0gVW453eJqDr1-Mfek1B0oNa2wZSAy-N7PNKq7T3jx1kcf1YacgJcvmuH4soZZCSUZYbhB96DXZuNhkOKD9hTyzK1k/s320/Blog+Short+eared+Owl+flight+Whixall+Moss+23+1+11++IMG_4788_filtered.jpg)
It briefly perched.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_SzeD3s-D1QvI1h9jlYLAU8ovWCcrMEftAvSWFfQJRmfDamtZgY1uRlSylT_VtPoauuz00Nf8ezgqchy8JHR_JudxPI8-kVni6jg6iXZzJ4dd-wRun_TJcXzl3pgIXy9qgbG-sx8GVj3/s320/Blog+Short+eared+Owl+perched+Whixall+Moss+23+1+11+IMG_4783_filtered.jpg)
Then flew to the Moss Cottages end of the Moss, always in view but always (sadly) distant!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG46aFG6N0eSNJ5NsQ8WhJxEd84tPfDqgdOYF9YZqi8bCM3GWi5lmX01kbsF_gYSbezOYNKd6lJZR6k163H7m7Lwe23c2AcraT88hIQmQq7D8CRtdYtoKuDJnysmTPOYdgI4OCQm3WEyb/s320/Blog+Short+eared+Owl+flight+Whixall+Moss+23+1+11++IMG_4797_filtered.jpg)
As if that wasn't enougth excitement, as it approached the perimeter trees, another raptor flew down as if to mob/warn it off. The initial impression was 'another Owl'!? But then it dawned on us, this bird was grey with black wing tips - male Hen Harrier!! The light had really 'gone' by now but a great bird for Shropshire!